Major League Baseball announced on Friday that St. Louis Cardinals minor league reliever Kenny Maiques (Springfield – pictured) has been suspended 50 games due to a violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The commissioner’s office said that Maiques tested positive for “a drug of abuse,” but did not disclose the specific drug.

It is similar wording and result from just one month ago when Quad Cities starting pitcher Deryk Hooker was handed down the same suspension for the same basic reason.

The pair join two other Cardinals farmhands currently suspended. They are catcher Juan Castillo (Extended Spring Training) and second baseman Wilfred Vivas (Venezuelan Summer League).

Since 2005, the Cardinals have seen 13 of their Major or Minor Leaguers face suspension for drug violations. That total ranks as tied for fourth-highest among the 30 organizations and five suspensions above the average of eight.

While all of the Cards 13 hailed from the minors, current Cardinal Rick Ankiel was mentioned in the Mitchell Report as was Troy Glaus, called out for actions before he joined the club. Neither faced any disciplinary action from MLB.

The list of suspended Cardinals players since 2005 follows. Announced reasons vary from performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) to specific substances to drugs of abuse, generally considered recreational drugs as opposed to PEDs.

Date

Player Name

Substance

Length

4/4/2005

Sal Frisella

PEDs

15 games

5/13/2005

Jeremy Cummings

PEDs

15 games

4/18/2006

Yonathan Sivira

PEDs

50 games

8/2/2006

Marcos Chavez

PEDs

50 games

8/2/2006

Jonathan Gonzalez

PEDs

50 games

2/20/2008

Scott Vander Weg

PEDs

50 games

7/29/2008

Braulin Beltre

Boldenone

50 games

7/29/2008

Andres Beras

Boldenone

50 games

7/29/2008

Yedilson Pena

Boldenone

50 games

8/25/2008

Juan Castillo

Stanozolol

50 games

12/1/2008

Wilfred Vivas

Methandienone

50 games

4/9/2009

Deryk Hooker

Drug of Abuse

50 games

5/15/2009

Kenny Maiques

Drug of Abuse

50 games

Though I have not dug into movement of suspended players in detail, I found it interesting to note the Cardinals also signed four former Seattle Mariners who had previously been suspended, including current Major League closer Ryan Franklin. (The others were Troy Cate, Ryan Christianson and Omar Falcon, none of whom are still employed by the Cardinals today.)

With all the attempts at education, the core issue is driven by decisions made by young men, not clubs and as such, this is not intended to be an indictment of any organization. Also, the number of additional users not caught is of course unknown. Still, being prominently mentioned on this list of total suspensions since 2005 is not where any club would like to be.

Number

Clubs

3

Indians, Red Sox

4

Astros, Nationals

5

Brewers

6

Marlins, Phillies, Rays, Tigers, White Sox

7

Braves, Padres, Rockies, Twins

8

MLB average, (none), Angels, D-Backs, Orioles, Pirates

9

Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, Yankees

10

Athletics

11

Reds

12

Royals

13

Cardinals, Rangers

14

Mariners

15

Mets

16

Cubs

257

Total

(Note: “none” designates those players not a member of any organization at the time of their suspension.)

It is enlightening to scan the totals by team, with the Chicago Cubs bringing up the rear with the most players caught, 16, over five times the two clubs with the fewest suspensions, the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox at three each.

Of course, this simply indicates the organization of record at the time the player tested positive. For example, the furor over the Dodgers’ Manny Ramirez’ recent suspension may have been felt nearly as strongly in Boston, where he helped lead the Red Sox to two World Series championships as in his current employment location, Los Angeles.